Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill 2015 introduced in Lok Sabha

Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill 2015 introduced in Lok Sabha


Union Government has introduced Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in Lok Sabha to facilitate and fast track setting up of new nuclear projects in the country. Atomic Energy and Space Union Minister of State (MOS) Dr. Jitendra Singh has introduce it. The Bill pursues to modify the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.

Important facts about the Bill:
Aim of this bill is to overcome the difficulties encountered in the setting up of new nuclear projects and enhancement of nuclear power generation.

This act has redefined the Government Company, under this Act; a government company is one which will have at least 51 percent of the paid-up share capital by the central government.

Under this Act, a license is required for acquisition, production, use, export and import of any plant designed for production and development of atomic energy or for research purpose.

The Bill describe that any license granted for matters such as: (i) producing atomic energy and (ii) acquiring and using substances or minerals from which atomic energy can be obtained etc., will be cancelled if a licensee ceases to be a government.

It also proposes the cancellation of license in case the licensee ceases to be a government company.

In present scenario Nuclear power operations are carried out by two Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) namely Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI). Both are under the administrative control of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).